Drug-Eluting Stents
Messa & Associates has an understanding of drug-eluting stents (DES) and the legal steps that you need to take if you have suffered because of the undisclosed side effects related to the stent’s use.
Drug-eluting stents were designed for use in patients with clogged arteries so that an artery could be held open by the device which is placed on the inside of the artery. When placed at a location where certain cells have built up forming a blockage in the artery, the stent is intended to allow the free passage of blood once again at a more normal rate. The drug-eluting stents, which are coated with drugs that discourage new cell growth so that blockages will be less likely to occur, were approved for use by the FDA in 2003. Shortly afterward, the stents became a primary means of dealing with cardiac artery blockages.
Makers of the DES include Boston Scientific, Cordis, and Medtronic.
It has now become known, however, that the drugs which coat the drug-eluting stents work so well that complications have arisen resulting in deadly side effects. The growth of new cells is so thoroughly diminished that the stent eventually becomes a piece of bare metal exposed inside the artery. In reaction to the metal, blood clotting begins to occur, almost immediately becoming dangerous and often deadly to the lives of stent wearers.
With over a million people a year receiving drug-eluting stents, some estimates of the number of people dying from the undisclosed side effects of these stents are in the range of 2,000. After studies in Europe, some authorities regard the risks to be much higher.
Dangerous and potentially dangerous side effects include:
- Thrombosis (blood clot development)
- Severe allergic reactions
- Cardiac problems including heart attack
- Need for ongoing antiplatelet medication to prevent thrombosis
- Cardiac-related issues causing death
If you or a loved one has had a drug-eluting stent implanted in recent years, it is in your best interest to consult a cardiologist regarding the proper functioning of the stent and proper arterial health. You should also consult a defective product attorney at Messa & Associates who can fully assess your case and give you the advice of a compassionate professional. Years of experience helping clients receive just compensation for medical problems and/or unwarranted medical procedures has given them the expertise to make them your best choice for successfully moving forward through a trying time. A toll-free number is provided by which you can set up a free, personal and confidential consultation at your convenience. Call today for peace of mind.
